Soil compactor

ABSTRACT

Soil compactor including a compaction drum rotatably supported by a compaction roller frame, wherein the compaction drum frame comprises two longitudinal members arranged in a direction longitudinal to the compactor on both sides of the compaction roller and supporting said compaction roller, and, connecting the two longitudinal members together, two cross members arranged in a direction perpendicular to the compactor and along both sides of the compaction roller, wherein the compaction roller frame is connected to a compactor main frame via one of the two cross members, and wherein at least one sight opening is provided within the other of the two cross members.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a soil compactor that can be used, forexample, to prepare the surface of a substrate to be paved with asphaltin road construction or to compact the asphalt placed upon saidsubstrate.

Known from DE 10 2013 203 860 A1 is a soil compactor, which essentiallycomprises a front end provided with a compaction roller supported on acompaction roller frame and rotatable around a rotational axis. Thecompaction roller comprises two longitudinal members arranged in adirection longitudinal to the compactor on both sides of the compactionroller and supporting said compaction roller. Between these twolongitudinal members are two cross members extending in a directionperpendicular to the compactor and along both sides of the compactionroller, hence extending in a direction essentially perpendicular to thecompactor. The compaction roller frame is attached via one of these twocross members to a compactor main frame, meaning, for example, a rearend also supporting a drive unit. The other of the two cross members,meaning the cross member provided essentially on the forward area of thecompactor, is offset upward in a direction vertical to the compactorwith respect to the cross member that is connected to the compactor mainframe, in principle thus situated at a somewhat greater distance fromthe substrate being compacted. This allows compaction to be carried outeven in slope areas without the risk of this cross member coming intocontact with the substrate to be compacted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

It is the object of the present invention to provide a soil compactor inwhich the person operating the soil compactor is offered an improvedview of the ground to be compacted located in front of the soilcompactor.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a soil compactorcomprising a compaction roller rotatably supported by a compactionroller frame, whereby the compaction roller frame comprises twolongitudinal members arranged in a direction longitudinal to thecompactor on both sides of the compaction roller and supporting saidcompaction roller, and, connecting the two longitudinal memberstogether, two cross members arranged in a direction perpendicular to thecompactor and along both sides of the compaction roller, whereby thecompaction roller frame is connected to a compactor main frame via oneof the cross members, and whereby at least one sight opening is providedwithin the other of the two cross members.

Given that the soil compactor according to the invention is providedwith at least one sight opening within the cross member also providedessentially on the general end area of the soil compactor, the personoperating the soil compactor will be able to look through the sightopening and see the area immediately in front of the compaction rollersupported by the compaction roller frame. This allows for greaterprecision when performing compaction work.

In order to obstruct the view of the operator as little as possible, itis proposed that the at least one sight opening be essentially openupward in a direction vertical to the compactor.

In order to nevertheless provide this portion of the cross member withsufficient stability, it is further proposed that the upper area of theat least one sight opening be furnished with at least one brace bridgingsaid sight opening in a direction perpendicular to the compactor,whereby the at least one brace has a smaller cross-sectional area thanthe other cross member in the area of the at least one sight opening.

Given that a cab for the person operating the soil compactor is arrangedgenerally in the middle of the compactor in a direction perpendicular tothe compactor and the operator is also situated in the middle of thecompactor—as viewed from a direction perpendicular to thecompactor—while carrying out compaction operations, it is furtherproposed that one sight opening is arranged in the center of thecompactor in a direction perpendicular to the compactor. The operatorthus obtains a broader view of view through this centrally positionedsight opening in a direction perpendicular to the compactor. Anothersignificant contribution to improving the view of the area in front ofthe compactor can be achieved in that the sight opening spans a distancein a direction perpendicular to the compactor at least 50%, preferably70% of the extent of the other cross member in a direction perpendicularto the compactor, and/or the at least one sight opening spans a distancein a direction vertical to the compactor at least 50%, preferably atleast 70% of the extent of the other cross member in a directionvertical to the compactor.

In order to improve stability, it can be further provided that the sightopening be divided into two sight opening areas by a preferablyplate-like support element braced by the brace, which, in a directionperpendicular to the compactor, is arranged essentially in the middle ofthe compactor as well as with respect to the other cross member.

In an alternative embodiment particularly advantageous with regard tostability, it is further proposed that the other cross member comprisesat least two cross member support elements arranged one above the otherin a direction vertical to the compactor and forming a sight openingbetween them.

In order to be able to perform compaction using a soil compactor builtaccording to the invention without the compaction roller frame cominginto contact with the ground, it is proposed that the other cross memberbe offset upward with respect to the other cross member in a directionvertical to the compactor.

In order to increase the versatility of the soil compactor, it isproposed that a leveling blade be supported by the compaction rollerframe so as to be movable in a direction vertical to the compactor.

In order that a leveling blade of this kind does not present a majorobstruction to the field of view of the operator, it is further proposedthat the upper area of the leveling blade in a direction vertical to thecompactor has at least one leveling blade sight opening. It can, forexample, be provided for this purpose that the upper area of theleveling blade be formed by a plurality of leveling blade barsessentially parallel to one another, preferably extending essentiallyparallel to the compaction roller axis of rotation, whereby at least oneleveling blade sight opening is formed between at least two levelingblade bars.

In order that the leveling blade can be moved in a vertical direction,it is proposed that a leveling blade lifting mechanism, preferably apiston and cylinder unit, be supported in relation to the leveling bladeand the other cross member. For this purpose, it is preferable that theleveling blade lifting mechanism be supported by the support element,which is braced in relation to the other cross member and the at leastone brace bridging the sight opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described hereinafter in reference to theenclosed drawings. Shown are:

FIG. 1 a perspective view of a compaction roller frame with a compactionroller rotatably attached thereto;

FIG. 2 the compaction roller frame shown in FIG. 1 with a leveling bladeattached;

FIG. 3 the leveling blade shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 a side view of a soil compactor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a portion generally termed as the front end 10 of theself-propelling soil compactor 11 shown in FIG. 4, which is designed asa single-drum compactor in the example shown. The front end 10 comprisesa compaction roller frame 12 having two essentially plate-likelongitudinal members 14, 16 extending in a direction L longitudinal tothe compactor. Between these two longitudinal members 14, 16, acompaction roller generally termed as 18 is supported in such a way thatthe roller axis of rotation extends essentially in a direction Qperpendicular to the compactor, hence essentially at a right angle to adirection L longitudinal to the compactor so that the two longitudinalmembers 14, 16 are arranged on both sides of the compaction roller 18and in a direction L longitudinal to the direction of the compactor. Thecompaction roller 18 can be rotatably supported by the longitudinalmembers 14, 16 in order to rotate about its roller axis of rotation.

Between the two longitudinal members 14, 16, two cross members 20, 22extend essentially in a direction Q perpendicular to the compactor,meaning also essentially parallel to the axis of rotation of thecompaction roller 18, said cross members consequently being arranged ina direction Q perpendicular to the compactor and along both sides of thecompaction roller 18. The two cross members 20, 22 can be of a box-likedesign and—just as the longitudinal members 14, 16—are fashioned assteel parts.

The compaction roller frame 12 or rather the front end 10 is connectedvia the cross member 20 to a compactor main frame 23, which may beenvisaged as a rear end 25. In order to steer a soil compactor 11constructed in this way, the front end 10 may be articulatedly connectedto the compaction main frame 23, for example able to be pivoted about apivot axis that is approximately vertical to the direction H of thecompactor.

As is apparent from FIG. 1, the two cross members 20, 22 are offset fromone another in a direction H vertical to the compactor so that the crossmember 20 connected or to be connected to the compactor main frame 23 isoffset downward with respect to the other cross member 22 in a directionH vertical to the compactor. Consequently, the cross member 22 that issituated farther away from the compactor main frame 23 or the rear end25 of the soil compactor 11 and essentially provided by, for example,the forward end area of the soil compactor 11 is situated so that itslower edge area 24 or rather the scraper 26 arranged beneath said crossmember 22 is at a greater distance from the substrate being compacted ina direction H vertical to the compactor. The advantage of this isallowing compaction to be carried out with this front end 10 even inslope areas without the cross member 22 or the scraper 26 arrangedthereunder coming into contact with the substrate U to be compacted.

In order to provide the operator P generally positioned in the cab 27 onthe rear end 25 with a view of the immediately adjacent ground to becompacted, for example that in front of the compaction roller 18, thecross member 22, which, defines the forward end area of the soilcompactor 11 when the front end 10 as depicted in FIG. 1 is moved to theleft, has a sight opening 28. Said sight opening 28 extends completelythrough the cross member 22 in a direction L longitudinal to thecompactor and is essentially open upward in a direction H vertical tothe compactor and is bordered, for example, by two side walls 30, 32 ora base wall 34 formed by the cross member 22. In the area of the sightgap 28, the cross member 22 has a smaller cross-sectional dimension thanthe attached areas provided on either side of it and attached to thelongitudinal members 14, 16. The sight gap 28 is provided essentially inthe middle of the cross member 22 in a direction Q perpendicular to thecompactor, whereby this middle area may be characterized, for example,by a plate-like support element 36 extending upward from the crossmember 22 or the base wall 34. Bridging the upper area of the sightopening 28 and thus extending essentially in a direction Q perpendicularto the compactor, a brace 38 penetrates the plate-like support element36 and is attached to the side walls 30, 32 of the cross member 22. Astable connection with both the cross member 22 and the plate-likesupport element 36 may be ensured, for example, by a welding joint.

In order to ensure the operator P a good view of the substrate U infront of the compaction roller 18, the sight opening 28 provided in theapproximate middle of the cross member 22 spans a distance in adirection Q perpendicular to the compactor at least 50%, preferably 70%of the distance spanned by said cross member 22 in this direction. Doingso ensures that the operator P has an equally good view of the areasaround the edge of the compaction roller 18 and the central area of thesubstrate U being compacted. It may be further provided for this purposethat the sight opening 28 spans a distance, thus basically a depth, in adirection H vertical to the compactor of at least 50%, preferably atleast 70% of the distance spanned, thus basically the thickness, of thecross member 22 in said direction H vertical to the compactor.

The brace 38 braces the cross member 22, but does so essentially withoutobstructing the view through the sight opening 28. The plate-likesupport element 36, which, due to its central position and due to thecentral position of the sight opening 28, is also connected to the brace38 midway along the length of the brace for the purpose of bracing. Thesight opening 28, which is basically open in an upward direction, isconsequently divided into two sight opening sections 40, 42 by theplate-like support element 36.

FIG. 2 shows the front end 10 from FIG. 1 with its compaction rollerframe 12 connected to a pivotably supported leveling blade 44. Theleveling blade 44 comprises pivoting arms 46, 48 at a distance from bothends of the leveling blade in a direction H perpendicular to thecompactor, said pivoting arms supported by the compaction roller frame12 in the area of the two longitudinal members 14, 16 and pivotableabout a pivot axis that is essentially parallel to the roller axis ofrotation or to a direction Q perpendicular to the compactor. A pistonand cylinder unit 50 is provided with a leveling blade lifting mechanism52, using which the leveling blade 44 can be raised or lowered. One endof the piston and cylinder unit 50 can thus be attached to an areamidway along the length of the leveling blade 44, and the other endpivotably connected to the cross member 22, in particular to the supportelement 36 supported thereon.

In order that the leveling blade 44 does not significantly obstruct theview of the substrate U in front of the compaction roller 18, the upperarea of the leveling blade 44 in a direction vertical to the compactoris formed by a plurality of leveling blade sight openings 54. These canbe provided essentially through leveling blade bars 58 extending abovethe blade portion 56 of the leveling blade 44 in a direction Qperpendicular to the compactor. The leveling blade bars 58 thus extendthe effective working area of the leveling blade 44 upward and beyondthe blade portion 56, but allow the substrate U immediately in front ofthe compaction roller 18 or in front of the leveling blade 44 to beviewed through this area. For this purpose, the leveling blade bars 58can be fixedly supported by a plurality of leveling blade plates 60situated side by side in a direction Q perpendicular to the compactor,which also support the blade portion 56.

Due to the sight opening 28 being provided, preferably in an area in themiddle of the cross member 22 and preferably spanning such a distancethat it occupies at least 50% and preferably at least 70% of thedistance spanned by the cross member 22 in a direction Q perpendicularto the compactor, the operator P obtains an essentially open view of thesubstrate U in front of the compaction roller 18 to be compacted bylooking through the upper area of the compaction roller 18. Thecomponents used for stabilizing or bracing the cross member 22, inparticular the brace 38, do not significantly obstruct the view of thisarea of the substrate U. The embodiment of the leveling blade 44according to the invention likewise enables an essentially unobstructedview of the area immediately in front of said leveling blade 44.

It is worthy of note that this construction according to the invention,that of the cross member 22 in particular, is significantly advantageousif said cross member 22 is offset upward in a direction H vertical tothe compactor with respect to the cross member 20 connecting to thecompactor main frame 23 and, absent the provision of the sight opening,lying within the field of view of the operator P.

The principles of the present invention, meaning the provision of asight opening, may also be achieved in other ways. The cross member 22may thus also be provided through two or more cross member supportelements arranged above one another in a direction H vertical to thecompactor extending between the two longitudinal members 14, 16, sightopenings being provided between each of them. Also, in a design of thecross member 22 in the manner shown in FIG. 1, several of the sightopenings can be provided successively in a direction Q perpendicular tothe compactor.

1. Soil compactor comprising a compaction roller rotatably supported bya compaction roller frame, wherein the compaction roller frame comprisestwo longitudinal members arranged in a direction longitudinal to thecompactor on both sides of the compaction roller and supporting saidcompaction roller, and, connecting the two longitudinal memberstogether, two cross members arranged in a direction perpendicular to thecompactor and along both sides of the compaction roller, wherein thecompaction roller frame is connected to a compactor main frame via oneof the two cross members, and wherein at least one sight opening isprovided within the other of the two cross members.
 2. Soil compactoraccording to claim 1, wherein the at least one sight opening isessentially open upward in a direction vertical to the compactor. 3.Soil compactor according to claim 2, wherein the upper area of the atleast one sight opening is furnished with at least one brace bridgingsaid sight opening in a direction perpendicular to the compactor,wherein the at least one brace has a smaller cross-sectional area thanthe other cross member in the area of the at least one sight opening. 4.Soil compactor according to claim 1, wherein a sight opening iscentrally arranged in the middle of the compactor in a directionperpendicular to the compactor, and/or that the least one sight openingspans a distance in a direction perpendicular to the compactor of atleast 50% and/or that the at least one sight opening spans a distance ina direction vertical to the compactor of at least 50%.
 5. Soil compactoraccording to claim 3, wherein the sight opening is divided into twosight opening areas by a plate-like support element braced by the brace,which, in a direction perpendicular to the compactor, is arrangedessentially in the middle of the compactor as well as with respect tothe other cross member.
 6. Soil compactor according to claim 1, whereinthe other cross member comprises at least two cross member supportelements arranged one above the other in a direction vertical to thecompactor and forming a sight opening between them.
 7. Soil compactoraccording to claim 1, wherein the other cross member is offset upwardwith respect to the other cross member in a direction vertical to thecompactor.
 8. Soil compactor according to claim 1, wherein a levelingblade is supported by the compaction roller frame so as to be movable ina direction vertical to the compactor.
 9. Soil compactor according toclaim 8, wherein the upper area of the leveling blade in a directionvertical to the compactor has at least one leveling blade sight opening.10. Soil compactor according to claim 9, wherein the upper area of theleveling blade is formed by a plurality of leveling blade barsessentially parallel to one another, wherein at least one leveling bladesight opening is formed between at least two leveling blade bar. 11.Soil compactor according to claim 8, wherein a leveling blade lifting issupported in relation to the leveling blade and the other cross member.12. Soil compactor according to claim 5, wherein the leveling bladelifting mechanism is supported by the support element.
 13. Soilcompactor according to claim 5, wherein a sight opening is centrallyarranged in the middle of the compactor in a direction perpendicular tothe compactor, and/or that the least one sight opening spans a distancein a direction perpendicular to the compactor of at least 50% and/orthat the at least one sight opening spans a distance in a directionvertical to the compactor of at least 50%.
 14. Soil compactor accordingto claim 12, wherein a leveling blade lifting mechanism is supported inrelation to the leveling blade and the other cross member.